Switch machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 5, 1932, w. K. HOWE SWITCH MACHINE Filed A rii 10, 1929 ATTORNEY April 5, 1932. I w, W 1,852,573

' SWITCH MACHINE Filed April 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WM M

,4 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFECE WINTHROP K. HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEVI YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK SWITCH MACHINE Application filed April 10,

This invention relates in general to a dual control selector for the operation of a railway track switch, and has more particular reference to a selector permitting operation of a track switch either by a usual switch hand throw, or by a switch machine, with the usual lock rod, lock bolt, etc., retained and operated when the switch is under control of the switch machine motor.

In the operation of track switches, it is desirable to be able to place operation of the track switch under control either of a usual hand throw, or a power operated switch machine, so that in case of a break down of the switch machine the track switch can still be thrown by hand. Also there may be other reasons, such as obstructions in the way of the switch, etc., Why it is desirable to place a track switch under hand power control by means of a usual hand throw.

When the track switch is to be operated by the usual power operated switch machine it is desirable to retain the usual lock rod, lock bolt, etc. for locking up the switch in the thrown position. When the switch is placed under hand throw control, however, it is desirable to have the operation by hand either partly or wholly independent of the switch machine mechanism, it being preferable that the hand throw be independent as far as practicable of all of the switch machine mechanism including the lock rod and lock bolt, whereby inoperativeness of the switch machine, even though due to trouble with the lock rod or associated parts, cannot interfere with ready hand operation.

When the switch machine employed retains the lock rod and lock bolt, it is necessary at times to have the hand throw operative to unlock the lock rod so as to permit the track switch to be operated by hand, but after having once unlocked the lock rod it is desirable that all subsequent hand operation be wholly independent of the lock rod and associated arts. p lVith the above and other objects in view, it is proposed, in accordance with this invention, to provide a dual control selector with parts so arranged that the track switch can be placed under control of a usual hand throw 1929. Serial No. 354,039.

at any time and in any position of the track switch. More specifically, it is proposed to have a lost motion connection provided between the hand throw drive and the switch throw rod, whereby, on initiating hand control, the usual switch lock rod will be unlocked, it it is at that time locked, and then the track switch can be thrown by hand, whereupon the lost motion referred to first becomes operative to limit the length of subsequent hand drive to throw the track switch without affecting the lock bolt.

The invention further provides a slidable clutch member which is arranged to be positively moved into final operative position for either hand control or switch machine control by movement of a selecting lever, if the clutch members to be interengaged are in proper positions. If these clutch parts are not in proper positions, however, a tensioned spring pivot which is provided for the operating yoke for the slidable clutch member, is further tensioned to thus store up energy to subsequently properly move the movable clutch member into final position after the clutch members are brought into proper registry by movement of the hand .or power operated clutch member.

Further objects, purposes and characteristic features of the invention will appear as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, showing, merely by way of example, and in no manner in a limiting sense, one form which the invention can assume. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view, with parts shown in section, of one form of applicants invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view, with parts shown in elevation, of the invention.

Fig; 3 is a diagrammatic sectional plan view of inter-engaging clutch members, shown in one operative position.

Fi 4 is a dia rammatic sectional lan I view of the inter-engaging clutch members of Fig. 3, but shown in a second operative of Fig. 3, but shown in a third operative position.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view, with parts shown in section, of clutch operating means and associated part-s.

Fig. 7 is a side clevational view of the clutch operating means of Fig. 6, and associated parts, of Fig. 6.

Fi 8 is a front elevational view of the clutch operating means of Fig. 6, and associated parts.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a brake useable in connection with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a switch machine casing 1, to which is connected a drive motor M, for driving a fixed clutch member B, through a gear 2, a recoil spring plan member RM, and a train of gears 4, 5,

6 and 7, whereby this fixed clutch member B is power driven when the motor M is operated.

The recoil spring gear member RM includes a drive gear 3 in mesh with gear 2, and a driven gear formed of two plates 3 connectec together and fastened to the shaft carrying gear 4, and carrying, in slots 3 therein, pretensioned springs 3 as shown, against which bear teeth 3 of drive. gear 3 and through which springs the normal drive torque is transmitted without, preferably, compressing the springs 3 In the case of an excess load being put on the motor M, however, the drive torque increases so as to cause further tensioning-of springs 3 so that on removing energy from the motor, springs 3 expand again to their normal length to drive motor M backward a short distance, thus to relieve pressure between the various gears and slack on on all parts driven by the motor M, for a purpose to be later described.

In Fig. 9, is shown a brake B1", of the electro-magnetic type, for holding the armature of the switch machine motor M, upon de-- energization of the motor M, which latter has normal and reverse fields NF and BF respectively, connected to normal and reverse wires N and R, the return being on common wire Com, all as set forth in detail, in patent of W. K. Howe, No. 1,824,146.

In case an electro-magnetic B7 or other type, brake be used for the switch machine motor M, for holding the motor armature upon current being cut off the motor, (as in Patent No. 1,82 ,146) if this brake is not already slow acting, it is made somewhat slow acting by using copper bands or the like, so as to allow the recoil springs to slack off as above described, before the brake sets.

A second fixed clutch member A, is provided, which can be hand operated by means of a usual switch hand throw HT, which is lockable in its two extreme positions in any usual manner, as by a padlock or the like, (not shown). The clutchmember A is driven by this hand throw lever HT through gears 9, 10 and 11.

The fixed power driven clutch member B is shown as an integral part of the gear 7, which can rotate idly on a cylindrical sleeve 12, received on a squared portion 13 of a main drive shaft 14.

In like manner, the fixed hand driven clutch member A, is shown as an integral part of the hand driven gear 11, and it likewise can rotate idly on an upper circular portion 15 of the main drive shaft 14.

Provided in the switch machine casing 1, is a usual switch throw rod TR, with operating cam faces 16, and a lock rod LR. There is also provided a lock bolt LB, having operating cam faces 17 and 18, for locking the lock rod LR, and a contact shifter OS, for automatic operation in connection with associated parts 19 and 20, for shifting contacts represented diagrammatically by the dotted square CT, for setting up, in the usual manner, normal and reverse operating circuits for the switch machine motor ill.

Tl e throw bolt LB, and lock rod LR, together with the associated contact shifter CS, are all operated by means of a crank pin 21 and roller, at .he end of a crank 22, pinned to the lower end 13 of the main drive shaft 14. If desired, crank 22 can be made integral with shaft 14, and shaft 14 can be cylindrical at the portion receiving gear 7, with the sleeve 12 eliminated. The operation of these parts, enumerated just above, is the same as occurs in the Howe Patent 1,466,903 granted September 4, 1923, and reference should be made to this patent for a description more detailed than that occurring below.

Mounted on the square portion of the main drive shaft 14., on the square portion 13 thereof, is a slidable clutch member C, for engaging with either the power driven clutch member B, or the bane driven clutch member A. A control ctor lever S, which is arranged to be held in thrown position by a detent 23, of any usual or desired construction, is provided for moving the clutch member G into position for either power or hand operation of tie track switch, through the crank and pin 22 and 21. This selector lever S operates a spindle 24, pivoted on a concentric end pin 25 and which has an intermediate eccen-- tric portion 25 which is received in slots 26 in each of the two side members 27, each terminating at one end in an inturned fork like prong 28, engaged in a groove 29 in the movable clutch member C. The other end of each member 27 is connected to upright members 30, which in turn are inter-connected their u, per ends by a bearing pl ate 31.

The bearing plate 31 is perforated to readi- 1y slide on a threaded stud received, at its lower end, in fif-Z d member 33 and fur nished with nut 34 and stop plate 35 at its upper end. Sleeved on the stud 32 are two i SE1 springs 36 and 37 which bear respectively, againstthe upper and lower faces of the plate 31, and these springs are preferably initially tensioned and so held between the two faces of the bearing plate 31 on the one hand, and the members 33 and 35 on the other hand.

With this construction it will be seen that the members 27, interconnected by the bearing plate 31 form an operating yoke for moving the slidable clutch member 0 when the eccentric portion 25 is operated in the slots 26. In the position of parts as shown in Fig. 2, where the clutch members B and C inter-engage, if the selector lever S be thrown 180 in a clockwise direction from its shown position, the eccentric portion 25 will posi tively and immediately move the movable clutch member G into engagement with the fixed hand operated clutch member A, the operating yoke for clutch member C pivoting at the bearing plate 31 which remains stationary on stud 32.

Should the clutch members G and A be out of position for proper registry and prevent engagement at the time in question, the shifting yoke will be moved about the plate 31 as a fixed pivot, until the two clutch members contact, whereupon further movement of the portion 25 will operate to compress the upper spring 36, the yoke then pivoting about the fork members 28 as a fixed pivot point, and moving the bearing plate 31 upwardly to store energy in and further compress spring 36. Upon operating the hand throw HT, the clutch member A will be turned until it comes into proper registering position with respect to clutch member C, whereupon the energy just previously stored up in spring 36 will move plate 31 downwardly and pivot the shifting yoke about the eccentric portion 25 as a fixed pivot to drive the clutch member C intZ engagement with the fixed clutch member The recoil s rin ear member RM as explained above, drives the motor M backward,

on energy being removed from motor M, and before any brake, as Br has time to set, to thus release friction and tension in all parts power driven and especially between the slidable clutch member C and shaft 14 and in the motor reduction gearing 2, RM, and 4, to facilitate spring movement of clutch member C. This allows springs 36 and 37 to be dependable and certain in operation, and still be relatively small so as not to consume much space.

On reversing the selector lever S, so as to disconnect the track switch from operation by the hand throw, and connect it for opera tion by the switch machine motor M, the reverse operation to that just above described takes place.

On connecting the movable clutch member C for power operation, (the position shown in Fig. 2) and then operating such clutch member C, the crank 22 and crank pin 21 are rotated clockwise so as to move the pin 21 from the position shown, for example, in Fig.

1. The ensuing operation which takes place is described in detail in the Howe Patent 1,466,903, referred to above. Briefly, the pin 21, after a short idle movement, operates against cam face 17 to move the lock bolt LE to the right to dis-engage it from the lock rod LR, then it engages the cam face 16 on the throw rod TR to throw the track switch to reverse, then'it engages cam face 18 to relock the lock rod LR in the thrown position of the track switch, and then after a short idle movement, returns to a'position just short of that shown in Fig. 1. During this operation, the contact shifter OS is operated by the members 19 and 20 to shift the contacts, diagrammatically represented by the dotted square CT, to set up normal or reverse operating circuits for the motor M, as the case may be.

On connecting the movable clutch member C with the clutch member A for hand operation of the track switch, the operative movement is not so great as above described, as the gearing is arranged so that a complete throw of the lever HT from its shown position in Fig. 1, to its other final position, 180 therefrom, operates the crank pin 21 from its position shown in Fig. 1, only through the amount of travel required to completely throw the track switch. That is, in hand operation the lock rod LR is first unlocked, and then the track switch is completely thrown, but the further operation of again locking the lock rod by means of the lock bolt LB is not performed under hand operation, but the switch points are securely held in thrown position by being locked in such position by means of pin 21 coming to rest on the dwell of one or the other of cam faces 16. Thus it is seen that the hand operation is wholly independent of the co-action of the lock rod LR and lock bolt LB, except in so far as possibly concerns the unlocking of the lock rod on the initial hand operation.

The manner in which the clutch members A and O inter-engage and cooperate to first unlock the lock rod LR, on initiating hand operation, and subsequently to throw the track switch, without looking up the lock rod by the lock bolt, is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

In F ig. 3 the selector lever S is shown thrown to the position opposite to that of Figs. 1 and 2, for initiating hand operation, while the hand throw HT, is shown in its initial position, before operation. The hand operated clutch member A and slidable clutch member 0 are shown in mesh, and in the positions assumed before operation by hand. In the position of clutch member C of Fig. 3, the track switch is in normal position, with the lock rod LR locked up in such position by the lock bolt LB.

Fill

:In Fig. l the position of parts is shown after the hand throw lever HT has been com-.

pletely thrown. It will be seen that the clutch member C, which drives the crank pin 21, has been moved only to the position indicated in Fig. 4 as switch reverse and unlocked by lock bolt, whereby it is seen that upon first initiating hand throw control the switch lock rod is unlocked by its lock bolt, theswitch is thrown, but the lock rod is not again locked up by its lock bolt, but the switch points, and of course the lock rod is held securely in position, by being locked there by the; pin resting on a cam face 16.

In 5 is shown the positions of parts after the hand throw HT has been returned to the posi ion of Fig. 3, corresponding to the tr ck switch in normal pos .ion. In this figure it will be seen that the switch drive clutch member C has been moved back from the F l position, in a countercloclnvise direction, to the position indicated on Fig. 5, as switch normal and unlocked by lock bolt. This drive clutch member C, it will be seen by comparing Figs. 3 and has not leen returned to its initial position shown in 3 and this is due to the lost motion of some 60 existing between the two clutch members A and G. ()n all subsequent hand operations, the clutch member C will be moved a surficient distance to throw the track switch, but insutlicient to lock it up by the lock bolt.

From the above discussion it will be readily appreciated that a hand throw has been incorporated in the combination of this invention, wnich, on being cut in, moves the switch drive clutch member C a distance su lieient only to unlock the switch lock rod and completely throw the trac switch, and then on subsequent operations, due to the active introduction of lost motion between the driving and driven clutch members, the clutch member C is operated only a suliicient distance to completely throw the track switch.

Thus the hand throw can be used to operate the track switches not only when the switch machine motor M is inoperative, and when the various power operated gears may be inoperative, out also when the lock rod LR and lock bolt LB are for any reason inoperativ". Since it is a frequent case that the switch machine is inoperative because oi": trouble with the lock bolt and lock rod, it is a decided advamage to have the hand throw control. wiiolly independent of tl s mechanism except in so far as described above.

The switch machine casing 1, is provided, one on each side, with an opening 24 for receiving the shafts associated with the levers HT and S, one of such openings, (that not being used) being covered by a cam plate 24. The drive gear l,e2c.,beingz symmetrically arranged in the casing 1, all'the hand operated parts as S, K152i, 9, 10, the bearings for 10, 25 etc.,'can be changed to the opposite side of the casing to thus make the selector and hand throw readily convertible from a left to right hand, selector, or vice versa.

If the track switch is operated by the switch machine mot-or M to an intermediate position between normal and reverse, for example, and then for some reason is stopped, as by a piece of coal or the, like, the hand throw control can be cut in by moving the selecting lever S to the hand throw position, which is the reverse to that shown in Fig. 1. In these conditions, it the clutch members A and C are not in proper position for inter-engaging, the selector lever S will positively move the clutch member C until it butts against clutch member A, and then will tension the spring 36 hearing against the clutch shitting yoke plate 31. On operating the hand throw lever T clutch member A will be operated until it comes into registry with the clutch member C, whereupon these clutch members will be forced into inter-engagement by the spring 36, so that the hand throw clutch member A will pick up control of the track switch where it was interrupted, and assume control from that point on.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 6, 7 and S, a contact member 38 is provided,'having contacts 39 and 40 for respectively controlling circuits for the switch machine motor M, and wayside signal means for controlling the tracks which can be connected up by the track switch. This contact member 38 is mounted on yoke 41, which is provided with a slot 41-52 for operation by the member 25 on the shaft 24 operated by the selector lever S. The yoke 41 is pivoted to ears 4:3, by pivot pins 4&1, the ears 18 being integral with or supported on, the fixed member 33.

From the above described construction it will be seen that, on throwing the selector lever S from its position shown in Fig. 1, to its other extreme position, for cutting in hand operation, the yoke l]. will be raised to move the contact member 38 to its dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 7, to de-energize the switch machine and set the wayside signals at stop, and so maintain them until the selec tor lever S is returned to the position shown in 1, the position for placing the track switch under control of the switch machine motor M. This means that proceed signals can be had only wnen the switch machine is under normal motor operation.

If desired, the lost motion between the hand operated clutch member A, and the shit-table clutch member C, can be decreased, or eliminated altogether, whereby to always permit hand operation of the clutch member C through a distance sufficient not only to-throw the track switch, but to operate the lock-bolt once, either to release, or to engage the lock rod. With this arrangement the hand operation when first initiated, would unlock the lock rod, and then throw the track switch, but not lock it up with the lock bolt and lock rod. On reverse operation by hand, the track switch would be thrown,

and then the lock rod would be locked up by the lock bolt.

Also, the gear ratios in the train of gears used for hand operation, can be modified so that movement of the hand throw lever HT, through the usual 180, will drive the clutch member C through a greater distance than described above, and illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, so that the lock rod will be locked up after hand throwing of the track switch even though the shown lost motion be intro duced between the two clutch members A and C, as illustrated in Figs. 35. In this case, the first hand operation would unlock the lock rod, throw the switch, and then lock the lock rod; then next unlock and throw the next throw and lock, etc.

Also in the case described above, where the lost motion between clutch members A and C is either partly, or wholly, eliminated, with the referred to changed gear ratio, hand operation in each case, would unlock the lock rod, throw the switch, and then lock the lock rod.

The above described construction makes it clear that applicant has provided a means whereby a track switch can be operated in the usual manner by a switch machine, and the track switch locked up by the usual lock rod and lock bolt after completion of the switch throw. The construction also permits cutting out power operation and cutting in hand operation, at any point of the operative cycle, merely by throwing over selector levers, positionable at either side of the switch machine casing, through an arc of 180. Due to the floating clutch shifting fork, the clutch parts are at once positively properly inter-engaged if possible, or if impossible at the time of operation of the selector lever S, energy is then stored up, to complete the inter-engagement of the clutch parts when the clutch parts reach registering position.

Also the construction provides an initial switch driving clutch operation by hand, sutficient to unlock the switch lock rod and to completely throw the switch, but to subse quently operate this clutch member through only a sutficient distance to throw the switch, thereby making the hand throw operating mechanism substantially independent of the operativeness of the switch lock rod and lock bolt and associated parts.

The above specific description of one form of device embodying the present invention has been given solely by way of illustration, and is not intended, in any manner whatsoever, in a limiting sense. Obviously, this invention can assume many ditlerent physical forms, and is susceptible of numerous modifications, and all such forms and modifications are included by this invention, as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described .my invention, I now claim 1. In a switch operator selector, in combmation, a switch throw rod, a hand operable drive member, a power operable drive member, a clutch having a member movable to connect up the throw rod to either the hand or the power operable drive member, and a combined positive and resilient operator for said clutch member to positively move the clutch member until it engages a cooperating member and then to resiliently bias it in the same direction if the movable clutch member and cooperating member are not in registering position.

2. In a switch operator selector, in combination, a switch throw rod, a hand operable drive member, a power operable drive memher, a clutch having a member manually slidably movable to connect up the throw rod to either the hand or the power operable drive member, and a combined positive and resilient hand operator for said clutch memher to positively slide the clutch member until it engages a cooperating member and then to resiliently bias it in the same direction if the movable clutch member and cooperating member are not in registering position.

3. In a switch operator selector, a switch throw rod, a drive member for the throw rod, a power operated member, a hand operated member, a clutch for connecting said drive member to either the power or the hand operated member, and operating means for the movable part of said clutch including a lever pivoted at one end to the movable clutch part and pivoted at the other end on a floating pivot, and means for pivoting said lever about its floating pivot while moving the movable clutch part, and for pivoting said lever about the movable clutch part while moving the floating pivot.

4:. In-a switch operator selector, a switch throw rod, a drive member for the throw rod, a power operated member, a hand operated member, a clutch for connecting said drive member to either the power or the hand operated member, and operating means for the movable part of said clutch including a lever pivoted at one end to the movable clutch part and pivoted at the other end to a floating pivot, and means for moving an intermediate part 01" the lever for pivoting said lever about its floating pivot while moving the movable clutch part, and, on encountering sufficient res1stance,tor pivoting sald lever about the movable clutch part while shifting the floating pivot, whereby to positively inter-engage the clutch parts it they be in registering position, and to bias them toward each other, if

they be out of registering position.

5; In a switch operator selector, a switch throw rod, a drive member for the throw rod, a power operated member, a hand operated member, a clutch for connecting said drive member to either the power or the hand operated member, and operating means for the movable part of said clutch including, a lever pivoted at one end to the movable clutch part and slidably pivoted at the other end between opposing springs to form a floating pivot, and means for moving an intermediate part of the lever for pivoting said lever about its floating pivot while moving the movable clutch parts, and on encountering sufiicient resistance for pivoting said lever about the movable clutch part while shifting the floating pivot by tensioning one of said springs.

6;- In'a switch operator selector, in combination, a switch throw rod, a shaft for operating said rod, a clutch member slidable but non-rotatable on said rod, a hand operatedclutch member and a power operated clutch member rotatable on said rod, and means for shifting said movable clutchmemher to engage either of said other clutch memhere, including, a lever pivoted at one end to said movable clutch member, a fixed stud, a plate slidable on the stud, springs on said stud and bearing on opposite faces of said plate, means connecting-the other end of said lever to said plate, and means for transversely moving the intermediate part of said lever.

7. In a switch operator selector, in combination, a switch throw rod, a shaftforopcrating said rod, a clutch member slidable but non-rotatable on said rod, a hand operated clutch member, and a power operated clutch member'rotatableon said rod, and means for shifting said movable clutch member to engage either of said other clutch members, including, a yoke having its free ends pivoted at one end to said movable clutch member, a fixed'stud, aplate forming the back of said yoke slidable on the stud, pretensioned springs on said stud and bearing on opposite faces of said plate, means connecting the other end of'said lever to said plate, and a crank pin and slot means for transversely moving the intermediate part of said-lever.

8. In a switch operator selector, the combi nation, with a switch throw rod, a switch lock rod and lock bolt therefor, and power operated means for unlocking the lock rod, throwing the throw rod, and then looking the lock rod, of a hand operated means, and means for at will substituting the hand operated means for the poweroperated means for operating said throw red at will, but constructed to permit operating said lock bolt only at the initial hand operation of said throw rod.

9. In a switch operator selector, in combination with a switch throw rod, a switch lock rod and lock'bolt therefor, and power operated means for unlocking the lock rod, throwing the throw rod, and then locking the lock rod; a hand operated means and means for at will substitutingthe hand operated means for the power operated means for, on the ation, completely throwing the throw rod without looking or unlocking the lock rod with its lock bolt.

10. In a switch operator selector, in combination, with a switch throw rod, a switch lock rod and lock bolt therefor-and power operated means for unlocking the'lock rod, throwing the throw rod, and then lockingthe lock rod; a hand operating means, and means including a lost motion connection for at will substituting the hand operating means for the power operated. means for operation of said throw rod.

11. In a switch operator selector, the combination, with a switch throw rod, a switch lock rod and lock bolt therefora-nd power operated means for unlocking the lockrod, throwing the throw rod, and then lockingv the lock rod, of a hand operated means, and means including a lost motion connection for'at will substituting the hand operated means for the power operated means for, on the initial hand operation, unlocking the lock rod and throwing the throw rod, without subsequently locking up the lock rod with its lock bolt, and on subsequent hand: operation throwing the throw rod without locking or unlocking the lock rod with its lock bolt.

12. In'combination with a switch-machine having a-member operable for unlocking the usual lock rod, throwing the throw rod and then locking up the lock rod, and power operated means for so operating said member; a hand operatedmea-ns operable by a usual switch hand throw lever, a. clutch for connecting the hand operated means tosaid member while disconnecting the power operated means from said member, said clutch having lost'motion between the hand open ated part and the driven part thereof whereby to actuate the usual lock bolt for the lock rod only during the initial throw of the hand throw lever.

13. In combination with a switch machine having a member operable for unlocking the usual. lock rod, throwing the throw rod and then locking-up the lock rod, and power operated means for so operating saidmember; hand operated means operable by ausual switch hand throw lever, a clutch for connecting the hand operated means to said member While disconnecting the power operated means from said member, operating means for said clutch including afloating lever for either positively moving the clutch parts into engagement or for first positively All) moving the same and then elastically biasing them in the same direction, according as the clutch parts are, or are not, in position to register, said clutch having lost motion between the hand operated part and the drivon part thereof whereby to actuate the usual lock bolt for the lock rod only during the initial throw of the hand throw lever.

lfl. In a switch operator selector, in combination, a switch throw rod, a hand operable drive member, a power operable drive member, a clutch having a member movable to connect up the throw rod to either the hand or the power operable drive member, and a combined positive and resilient operator for said clutch member to positively move the clutch member until it engagesa cooperating member and then to resiliently bias it in the same direction if the movable clutch member and cooperatingmember are not in registering position, said power operable drive member being driven through a resilient recoil gear and reduction gearing, whereby, upon over drive-the recoil gear is cocked to recoil upon the driving force being discontinued to slack off on the driven parts.

15. In a switch operator selector, a switch throw rod, :1 drive member for the throw rod, a power operated member, a hand operated member, a clutch for connecting said drive member to either the power or the hand operated member, and operating means for the movable part of said clutch including a lever pivoted at one end to the movable clutch part and pivoted at the other end on a floating pivot, and means for pivoting said lever about its floating pivot while moving the movable clutch part, and for pivoting said lever about the movable clutch part while moving the floating pivot, said power operated member being driven through a resilient recoil gear and reduction gearing, whereby, upon over drive the recoil gear is cocked to recoil upon the driving force being dis-- continued to slack oil on the driven parts.

16. In a switch operator selector, a switch throw rod, a drive member for the throw rod, a power operated member, a hand operated member, a clutch for connecting said drive member to either the power or the hand operated member, and operating means for the movable part of said clutch including, a lever pivoted at one end to the movable clutch part and slidably pivoted at the other end between opposing springs to form a floati e; pivot, and means for moving an intermediate part of the lever for pivoting said lever about its floating pivot while moving the movable clutch parts, and on encountering sutlicient resistance for pivoting said lever about the movable clutch part while shifting the floating pivot by tensioning one of said springs, said power operated member being driven through a resilient recoil gear and reduction gearing, whereby, upon over drive the recoil gear is cocked to recoil upon the driving force being discontinued to slack off 011 the driven parts.

17 In a switch operator selector, a switch throw rod, a drive member for the throw rod, a power operated member, a hand operated member, a clutch for connecting said drive member to either the power or the hand operated member, and operating means for the movable part of said clutch including alever pivoted at one end to the movable clutch part and pivoted at the other end on a floating pivot, and means for pivoting said lever about its floating pivot while moving the movable clutch part, and for pivoting said lever about the movable clutch part while moving the floating pivot, a motor for driving said power operated member, a brake for the motor automatically set shortly after de-energization of the motor, said power operated member being driven through a resilient recoil gear and reduction gearing, whereby, upon over drive the recoil gear is cooked to recoil upon the driving force being discontinued to slack off on the driven parts before the brake sets.

18. In a switch operator selector, in combination, a casing, a switch throw rod in the casing, a hand operable drive member in the casing, a power operable drive member in the casing, a clutch for connecting up the throw rod to either the hand or the power operable drive member, hand operable members out side one side of the casing for operating said hand drive member and said clutch respectively, and means for readily changing said hand operable members to the other side of the casing, to thus transform the selector from a right to a left hand selector, or vice versa.

19. In a switch operator selector, in combination, a casing, a switch throw rod in the casing, a hand operable drive member in the casing, a power operable drive member in the casing, a clutch for connecting up the throw rod to either the hand or the power operable drive member, hand operable members outside one side of the casing for operating said hand drive member and said clutch respectively, and means including corresponding receiving openings, for said hand operable members, in opposite sides of said casing, for readily changing said hand operable members to the other side of the casing, to thus transform the selector from a right to a left hand selector, or vice versa.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WINTHROP HOWE. 

